Fire extinguisher



Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,195

P. G. MacGREGoR FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed oct. e. 1925 A TTORNEYJ Patentedoa. 16, 192s.

UNITED lsTJlrzs PATENT OFFICE.

'PETER G. MAOG'REGOR, OF PEQUANNOC'K, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 PYRENEMANU- FACTURING COMPANY, F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF DELA-WARE.

FIRE GUISHER.

Applicatipn'led October 6, 1925. Serial No. 60,708.

This invention relatesto .fire extinguishers and is herein shownembodied in a lire extinguisher of the portable type, comp-risin aliquid-receptacle' within which is arrange a double acting pump adaptedto forcibly eject the'liquid from the receptacle on both the inward ,andoutward movements of the piston, regardless of the position in which theextinguisher is held.

In extinguishers is customary to' provi-de a nozzle tube locatedcentrally of the piston tube or piston operat- -ing member to which anoperating handle is connected, 'the handle being provided with means forlocking it,`when not in use, to the extinguisher head through which vthepiston tube reciprocates and through which air is admitted around thepiston tubeas the liquid is expelled during operationof lthe eX-.tinguisher.A

Heretofore a ycompressible packing carried 'by the operating handle hasIbeen emf -ployed as. a means for sealing around the piston tube thespace through which air is admitted to the receptacle as theliquid isdisplaced. `The packing so employed has been' forced intointimateengagement with the extinguisher head upon locking the handle to thereceptacle, but it has been found Ithat after a time the packing becomesreduced in thickness to such an extent that the handle, in .the absenceof means adapted'to compensatev forv the reduction in thickness ot thepacking, fails to so cooperate with the packing as toe'ectively seal thespace ailorded between the piston tube and the extinguisher head.

`@ne of the objects of the invention iste` overcome the objection abovementioned, and to this end a. compensating means is provided which is soassociated with the operating handle as to maintain the packing inintimate engagement with the extinguisher head when the handle is lockedto the extinguisher and thereby maintain an effective seal around thepiston tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide van improved means Jforsealing the inlet end of the nozzle-tube when the handle is locked tothe extinguisher. i A further object of the invention is to provide animproved means, surrounding the piston tube intermediate the pumpcylinder and the extinguisher head, forremoving the film -of the' typementioned itV of liquid from the iston tube on its outward strokeandtherea ter diverting such liquid back into the liquid supply.

-Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means forrestraining the ow of liquid from the receptacle through the spaceafforded between the piston tube and extinguisher head without undulyobstructlng t e passage of air into the receptacle through the spacealforded between the piston tube and extinguisher head while theextinguisher is being operated.

@ther objects and certain advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which- .Figure 1 is a longitudinal, centralsectional view through an extinguisher embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the inwardly projecting portion of the pistonhead constituting an element of -a breather.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a stripper element.

Figure 4: is an enlarged fragmental central sectional view through thepiston tube and the nozzle `tube showing the position of the nozzle tubevalve when the handle is locked to the extinguisher head.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the upper pump head.

-Figure 6 is a viewin elevation of the lower -pump head.

Figure 7 isa sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 8.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line v9--9 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a double acting pumparranged within a liquid receptacle 11 which is provided with a head 12to which an operating handle, 13, for the pump 10, is adapted to belocked when the extinguisher is not in use.

The pump 10 comprises a pump tube 14, to opposite ends of which aresecured pump heads 15 and 16 formed respectively with offset portions17,17 and provided with inlet ports 18, 18 and valve chambers 19, 19respectively. Within the valve chambers 19,

19 are valves 20, 20"connected together by means of a rod or link 21which extends through 4a tube 22 suitably connected with the y i offsetportions 17, 17 and maintained in communication with passages 23, 23.The passages 23, 23 are adapted to communicate with the valve chambers19, 19 and are oalso adapted to communicate with ports 24, 24 which leadto valve chambers 25, 25 adapted to communicate respectively withopposite ends of the pump tube 14 through ports 26, 26. Valves 27, 27are arranged within the valve chambers 25, 25 respectively, the

valves 27,27 being adapted to coopera-te with their respective seats, atthe inner ends of the chambers 25, 25 to sever communication between theports 24, 26 and the ports 24', 26. The valve chambers 25, 25 and alsothe valve chambers 19, 19 are closed by means of discs 28, seated uponthe outer ends of ribs or guides 29 which serve to maintain the valves27, 27 and 20, 20 centrally located within their respective chambers.

Within the pump tube 14 is arranged a. piston operating member, hereinshown as a piston tube 30, which projects through the head 12 andcarries at its inner enda 'piston 31. The piston 31 is movable upon thepiston tube 30 and is adapted to so move, when the piston is thrustinwardly, as to open inlet ports 32 and close inlet ports 33 formed inthe piston tube. Upon reverse movement of the piston tube 30 the piston31 so moves as toclose the inlet ports 32 and open the inlet `ports 33,the piston 31 being limited in its movement in one direction by a collar34 carried by the piston tube and limited in its movement in an oppositedirection by means of a gland nut 35 carried at the end of the pistontube and provided with a packing 36 surrounding a nozzle tube 37. Thenozzle tube is arranged centrally of the piston tube 30 and is securedin position by reason of its connection with a nozzle 38 which issecured to the outlet end of the receptacle 11.

The pump heads 15 and 16 are preferably die cast, and in order that theymay be interchangeable and in order that a single die may be employedfor both heads, they are identical, each being formed centrally with anopening 39 which is suicient in diameter to kreceive the piston tube 30,but oversized with respect to the nozzle tube 37. This oversize,

however, may be taken care of by means of a bushing 41 positioned withina pocket l42, the bushing 41 being provided with a packing material 43over which is positioned a lretaining plate or disc 44. The pockets 42are identical in shape and dimensions, and whereas one of the pockets isadapted for the reception of the bushing 41, the other pocket is adaptedfor the reception of a packing material 45 which surrounds the pistontube 30 and is retained in position'by means 0f a retaining disc 46. Theretaining discs 44 and 46 are identical, except as to thickness, and

are retained within their respective pocketsv by spinning over'theadjacent metal to provide retaining beads as shown at 48. It will benoted that the disc 44 is seated upon the outer end of the bushing 42which is seated upon a ledge 49 and that the disc 46, overlying thepacking 45, is seated directly upon the ledge 49, the disc 46 beingsomewhat thicker than the disc 44 to compensate for the thickness of theouter end of the bushing 42 as will be readily understood.

The head 12 comprises the usual lock plate 50, for locking the handle 13to the head, and a sleeve 51 through which the piston tube 30 operates,the sleeve being formed at its inner end with a depending flange 52,constituting a retaining element, provided with a plurality of openings53. This retaining element is spaced from the piston tube 30 andfunctions as a means for retaining a packing ring 54 in position aroundthe piston tube.

Around the retaining. element 52 is also carried a packing ring 55.TheseI packing rings, together with the associated sleeveA 51 andretaining element 52, constitute a breather which permits air to enterthe receptacle 11, around the piston tube 30, as the liquid is ejectedfrom the extinguisher, but at the same time offers an adequateobstruction to prevent the liquid from escaping through the spaceafforded between the piston tube 30 and the sleeve 51.

Inasmuch as the piston tube 30 reciprocates through the head 12 it, onits outward stroke, tends to carry with it a film of liquid, and inorder to remove thisA liquidthere is provided a stripper 56 which isarranged interoverlying the packing rings 54 and 55. The

stripper 56 comprises a spider 58 which is seated upon the head 15, thespider 58 being provided with an opening through which the piston tube30 reciprocates and is formed with an inclined wall 59. By reason of thefact that the wall 59 is inclined and terminates a slight distance fromthe pump head 15, the liquid, adhering to the piston tube 30 on itsoutward stroke, is removed and delected back into the liquid supplythrough a plurality of openings 61 formed in the spider, the spacebet-Ween the pump head 15 and the featherl edge of .the wall 59 beingmaintained during the outward stroke of the piston tube 30 inasmuch asthe spider 58 engages the depending iange 52 and the pump head 15. Thespider 58 is also provided with a pocket 62 carrying a suitable packing63,# the packing being retained within its pocket vide a chamber withinwhich is arranged a compression spring 66, one end of which engages thehandle and the other end of which engages a sealing means 67 adapted tosealing the space afforded between the piston tube and the sleeve 51.The sealing .means 67 comprises a sleeve v68 which is suitably connectedto the piston tube 30 and is so shaped at one end as to provide asheath69 carrying a packing material 71, preferably cork, over which ispositioned a metallic washer 72 adapted to engage the outer end of theAsleeve 51.

The relation between the spring 66 and the handle 13 is such that whenthe pistoni-ubc 30 is being operated-the spring 66 tends to separate thehandle 13 from the piston tube, but such separation is prevented byreason of the engagement between the pin 64 and the spool 65 asindicated in dotted lines in Figure 1. When the piston tube`30 is moveda sulicient distance inwardly the sealing means 67 is brought intoengagement with the end of the sleeve 51, and upon further movement ofthe handle 13 into its locked engagement with the head '12, as shown,the handle 13 is permitted to move with respect to the piston tube30,thereby moving the pin 64 from its dotted line position to its full lineposition shown in 'Figure 1. As a result of the relative movementafforded between the piston tube 30 and the handle 13, the 'spring 66 isplaced under compression and functions,

. head 12 through whichthe air isA permitted.

so long as the handle 13 isy locked to the head 12, to urge the pistontube 30 inwardly and at the same time urge the sealing means intointimate engagement with the sleeve 51. Should the packing material 71,due to the constant pressure exerted thereupon by the spring 66, becomereduced-in thickness', such reduction in thickness is compensated for bythe spring 66 and thus the sealing of the space afforded between theVpiston tube 30 and head 12, through which air is permitted to enter thereceptacle, is always maintained,

regardless of the length of time that the ex' tinguisher may be out ofuse.

Not only is it desirable to maintain an effective seal of the openingafforded in the to pa s into the extinguisher as the liquid is ejecteitherefrom, but it is also necessary to seal the inlet end of the nozzletube 37 and to this end an improved valve structure 734 is provi-ded.The valve structure 73 comprises a carrier 74 mounted within the pistontube 30, ene end of the carrier being engaged by a compression yspring75 arranged within the piston tube 30 and` maintained in en ageinentwith the screw-threaded end o the spool 65. Thecarrier 74 is providedwith a sealing element 76, preferably a soft metallic substance, whichis adapted to engage the inlet end of the nozzle tube 37 when the handle13is moved to its locked position. As will be notedfrom Figures l and 4,the carrier y 74 is formed with a funnel-shaped end 77, the inner wallof which is flared or tapered to facilitate proper centering of thesealing element 76 upon the inlet end of the nozzle tube 37, should thenozzle tube, due, for eX- ample, to slight imperfections in assembling,fail to assume a coaxial position with respect to the piston tube 30,particularly when the piston 31 is positioned as shown in Figure 1.`Under operating conditions the carrying member 74 is restrained againstmovement, under the influence of the spring 75, by reason of the factthat its funnel-shaped end 77 is adapted to engage and rest upon ashoulder 78 formed within the piston tube 30. Upon movement of thepiston tube 30 to almost its extreme inward position, the packingmaterial 76`engages the inlet end of the nozzle tube 37, and upon suchfurther inward movement of the piston tube 30 as is necessary to bringthe sealing means 67 into Aengagement with the sleeve 51, a relative'movement between the carrier 74 and thev piston tube isefected,lwhereupon the spring 75 is compressed thereby urging thepacking material 76 into intimate sealing engagement with the inlet endof the nozzle tube 37.' After the locking engagement between the handle13 and the head 12 has beenestablished, the compression of the springs75 and 66 is maintained, the former serving to constantly urge the`packing material 76 into intimate engagement with the inletv end of thenozzle tube 37 and the latter, as above eX- plained, serving to maintainthe sealing means 67 in intimate engagement with the sleeve 51. v I

, Upon unlocking the handle 13 from the head 12, the spring 66, being ofa. greater Strength than the spring 75, so functions as to move thehandle 13 outwardly upon the piston tube 30. until the pin 64 hasassumed the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. After the handle13 has moved outwardly upon the piston tube 30, under the influence ofthe spring 66, a further slight movement of both the handle 13 and thepiston tube 30 with@ respect to the carrier 74 is effected as a resultof the thrust 'exerted upon the carrier 74. Such relative movement iscontinued until such tim'e as the piston tube 30 and the handle 13 havebeen so moved with respect to the carrier 7 4 that the ledge 78 engagesthe funnel-shaped end 77 of the carrier 74. The carrier 74, beingthus'seated upon the ledge 78, is lifted from the nozzle tube 37 uponthe outward kstroke of the piston tube 30 and remains so lifted duringnormal operation of the extinguisher.

With lire extinguishers of the type herein shown, it is desirable thateach inlet passage to the pump always assumes such a position .withinthe liquid receptacle as to insure the 'Ill lou

tinguisher is heldin a horizontal position,

' and in order to accomplish this the pump 10 is so journaled atopposite ends as to permit the pump to swing about the axis of thenozzle tube 37.` The pump 10 is herein shown as journaled at one end tothe nozzle tube 37 through the pump head 16 whereas the other` end ofthe pump is ournaled upon the piston tube 30 through the pump head 15the offset portions 17 and 17 oi' the heads 15 and 16 being of sulicientweight to insure turning of the pump 10 aboutithe nozzle tube'as an axiswhen the extinguisher is held in a horizontal position and rotated.

When it is desired to operate the extinguisher, the handle 13'isunlocked from the head 12 by imparting to the handle a part turn, as iscustomary, whereupon the seals aforded by the sealing means 67 and thevalve mechanism 73 are broken. If the handle 13 is then drawn outward,the'piston tube 30 at first moves with respect to the piston 31, therebyclosing the ports 32 and opening the ports 33. If the extinguisher isbeing operated with its nozzle 38 pointed generally downward, the liquidwill enter the port 18', y

pass around the unseated valve 20 into the passage 23 and thence aroundthe valve 27 Figure 9 and into the lower part of the pump through theport 26. Upon reverse movement of the piston tube 30, the piston tube 30moves with respect to the piston 31 thereby closing the ports 33 andopening the ports 32,

whereupon the liquid previously drawn into the pump 10 passes throughthe ports 32 into and upwardly in the piston tube 30, past the unseatedsealing element 76 and on into the nozzle tube 37 from which it isejected. As the piston tube 30 moves inwardly, the valve 27 closes thecommunication previously afforded between the receptacle 11 and lowerpart of the pump through the head 16.`

While the piston 31 is being moved inwardly, liquid is drawn through theport 18 and passes up through the tube 22, from which it enters thepassage 24 and passes around the valve 27 into the pump 10 through theport 26. On the nextr outward stroke of the piston tube 30, liquidenters the lower end of the pump 10, as previously explained, and theliquid which has been drawn into the pump 10 through the head 15 passesfrom the pump tube 14 through the openings 33, into the piston tube 30from which it is directed into the nozzle tube 37 and expelled.

With the nozzle end of the extinguisher lpointed generally upward thevalve 20 is seated upon its seat and the liquid, on the in'- ward strokeof the piston tube, enters the head 15 through the port 18 thereof,while thevalve 27 of the head 16 is closed, and passes through the port24 into the piston tube 14, as previously described, the liquid in frontof the piston 31 being expelled from the pump tube 30 is againwithdrawn, liquid, whi e the extinguisher is pointed upward, enters thehead 15 through the port 18 and, while the valve 27 of the head 15 isclosed, passes into the tube 22-and on into the pump, in front of th'episton 31, through the ports 24 and 26 the liquid at the rear of thepiston '31 being forced through the openings 33 into the piston tube 30from which it is directed int-0 the nozzle tube 37 as previouslydescribed.v

While the extinguisher is held in a horizontalposition and operated, theliquid may be admitted to the pump 10, on the inward and outward strokesof the piston tube 30, through either of the ports 18 or 18', or both ofthese ports, depending upon the positions of the valves 20 and 20. Onlthe inward stroke of the piston tube 31, the liquid will pass aroundvalve 27 and enter the pump 10 through the port 26. During the outwardstroke of the piston tube 30, the liquid passes around the valve 27 andenters the pump 10 through the port 26. The liquid thus entering thepump 10 at opposite ends thereof is expelled as previously described.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a fire extinguisher, a liquid receptacle, a head having an openingthrough which communication with the receptacle is afforded when theextinguisher is operated, a piston-operating member projecting throughsaid head, an operating handle slidably connected to saidpiston-operating member, means for locking said handle to said head,sealing means rigidly fixed to said piston-operating member and adapted,when said handle is locked to said head, to close said opening andthereby sever the communication which is afforded through said head whenthe extinguisher is operated, and resilient means adapted to cooperatewith said handle and said piston-operating member when said handle islocked to said head to exert a longitudinal thrust upon'saidpistonoperating member and thereby urge said sealing means into intimateengagement with said head.`

2. In a lire extinguisher, a liquid receptacle, a head having an openingthrough which communication with the receptacle is aii'orded when theextinguisher is operated, a pistonoperating member projecting throughsaid head, an operating handle slidably connected to saidpiston-operating member, means for limiting relative'movement betweensaid handle and said piston-operating member, means for locking saidhandle to said head, a sleeve rigidly secured to said piston-operatingmember, a packing carried by said sleeve and adapted to be moved intoengagement with said head on the inward thrust of said pistonoperatingmemberY to close said opening,

`yieldable means interposed between said piston-operating member andsaid handle and munication with the receptacle is aorded when theextinguisher is operated, a pistonoperating member projectingl throughsaid head, an operating handle slidably connectedv to saidpiston-operating member, means for locking said handle to said head,yieldable means interposed between said handle and said piston-operatingmember tending to urge said piston-operating member in one direction andtending to urge said handle in an opposite direction when said handle isin its locked position, and sealing means rigid with respect to saidpiston-operating member and adapted to be acted upon by said yieldablemeansv when the handle is .in its locked position for closing saidopening throughI which communication with the receptacle is afforded ywhen the extinguisher is operated.

4. In a ire extinguisher; a liquid receptacle; a head having an opening'through which communication with the receptacle is ai'orded when theextinguisher is operated, a piston-operated member projecting throughsaid head; and means within said receptacle for obstructing saidcommunication, said means comprising a retaining element surroundingsaid piston-operating member and having air vents formed therein and aporous material interposed between said retaining element andpiston-operating member and covering said vents.

v 5. In a fire extinguisher; a liquid receptacle; a, head having anopening through which communication with the receptacle is afforded whenthe extinguisher is operated; a piston-operating member projectingthrough said head; and means within said receptacle for obstructing saidcommunication, said means comprising a retaining element surroundingsaid piston-operating member and having air vents formed therey' in, aring of porous material interposed between said retaining elementandsaid pistonoperating member and covering said vents,

and a second rin of porous material surrounding said retaining elementand covering said vents.

6. In a fire extinguisher, a liquid receptacle having a head, a pumparranged within said receptacle and comprising a pump tube and areciprocating piston-operating member projecting through said head, astripper through which said piston-operating member is adapted toreciprocate, .said stripper being coniined between and maintained inengagement with said head and said pump whereby said pump is heldagainst longitudinal movement upon outward movement of saidpistonoperating member, said stripper being provided with a deflectingwall inclined with respect to said piston-operating member andterminating adjacent said pump in a spaced relation` thereto to removesaid liquid from said piston-operating member and deflect the removedvliquid back into the liquid supply upon outward movement of saidpiston-operating member. c

7. In a tire extinguisher, the combination of a liquid receptacle, anoperating handle, .a piston tube projecting rom said receptacle intosaid handle and carrying said handle,

a nozzle tube arranged Within said piston tube, a valve slidable withinsaid piston tube, and a spring within said iston tube adapted tocooperate with said va ve for closing said nozzle tube.

8. In a lire extinguisher, the combination of a liquid receptacle, anoperating handle, a piston tube projecting from said receptacle intosaid handle, a nozzle tube arranged within said piston tube, a valveslidable within said piston tube, and a spring within said piston tubeadapted to cooperate with said valve for closing said nozzle tube, saidpiston tube being provided interiorly thereof at a substantial distancefrom its handle end with a seat adapted to engage said valve upontheoutward stroke of said piston tube whereby said valve is moved out ofengagement with said nozzle tube upon the outwardY stroke of said pistontube.

In testimony whereof, I have aiixed my signature to this specication.

PETER e. mceaneou.

